Muscat – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has launched an integrated smart tracking system for fishing boats as part of efforts to strengthen fisheries management and raise national income. A senior ministry official said the system, developed in partnership with a local company, will cover all coastal governorates and target 26,000 artisanal […]
Muscat – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has launched an integrated smart tracking system for fishing boats as part of efforts to strengthen fisheries management and raise national income.
A senior ministry official said the system, developed in partnership with a local company, will cover all coastal governorates and target 26,000 artisanal boats. He said the project is a key strategic initiative to improve sustainability in the fisheries sector and regulate activity through continuous digital monitoring.
The platform will allow round-the-clock tracking of vessel movements and support the management of marine incidents and emergencies. Authorities will be able to analyse sailing patterns and estimate fishing effort, enabling more accurate planning and stock protection. The system will also detect violations in real time and record offences as they occur, he said.
The official noted that the system is expected to improve maritime safety by reducing operational risks and strengthening the country’s search-and-rescue capability. Real-time location data will support faster response by operations rooms during emergencies.
Deployment will proceed in phases, starting with 6,000 tracking devices, followed by two phases of 10,000 units each. The network uses coastal LoRaWAN infrastructure with a coverage range of up to 40km offshore, extendable to 70km in some areas, and is backed by satellite links to ensure uninterrupted data transmission in distant waters.
Transmitted data will include a vessel’s location, speed and direction, along with stoppage alerts, emergency notifications and warnings of tampering. The official said this will give authorities an accurate picture of each boat’s movements and enable rapid response to incidents.
He added that the system offers fishermen direct safety benefits. An emergency button allows immediate contact with operations rooms, and accurate digital logs reduce the risk of boats being lost. The digital record will also serve as certified documentation when required.
At the ministry level, the initiative will strengthen monitoring capabilities, support policy development, and help combat illegal fishing. It will also contribute to national maritime security through integration with agencies responsible for risk and emergency management, in line with the digital transformation goals of Oman Vision 2040.
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